Madagascar’s reptile list grows following discoveries

A team of German researchers have recently described three chameleon species in Madagascar.

The reptiles belong to the Calumma genus and were recognised as new species due to their locations, morphologies and colorations.

This was confirmed using DNA barcoding and comparisons with other closely related species.

The aim of the expeditions was to study reptiles and amphibians in the country by gathering data on population sizes.

“Calumma uetzi is of course an exceptionally beautiful species, so we are excited about it, but Calumma juliae was an unexpected member of this species complex from the central east of the island,” says Mark Scherz, a PhD student at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Calumma juliae was found in an isolated forest fragment by the side of one of Madagascar’s main roads, which is believed to be the only place that this species occurs.

Despite repeated visits to the forest, only female Calumma juliae have been identified so far.

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